Summary

Part III: Heart and Fist

Chapter 8: Officer Candidate School – Eric arrives for Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, on January 20, 2001. He knows his life will change dramatically from what he had been. He looks forward to serving his country and helping others, but worries about how disciplined his life will now become. Eric and his fellow candidate officers are taken to their barracks and meet Staff Sergeant Lewis, a no-nonsense Marine Corps drill instructor. Training gets underway. Eric must do everything from dressing properly to exercising properly to shooting and fighting properly. Eric is assigned to ensure Wong, an Asian-American recruit, passes the final physical fitness test. Eric realizes that training isn’t all physical training, but is about leadership and helping out his fellows. Eric, along with Wong, are among the graduates of Navy Officer Candidate School. Eric...